PHOENIX — Hundreds of people supporting Arizona’s new law cracking down on illegal immigration rallied near the state Capitol on Saturday afternoon as temperatures reached 105 degrees.
Hundreds of motorcycle riders kicked off the downtown rally. Supporters waved American flags, and some carried signs that read “What part of illegal don’t they understand?” The rally’s turnout fell short of the march by opponents of the law last weekend, when about 20,000 people gathered.
Stephanie Colbert, 32, of Glendale and her mother, Pattie Sheahan of Phoenix, said they support the new law, which requires police conducting traffic stops or questioning people about possible crimes to ask about their immigration status if there is “reasonable suspicion” they’re in the U.S. illegally.
“Everybody needs to obey the same laws,” Sheahan said. “If you want to come here, there’s ways to do it. Do it the right way.”
Ex-U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado spoke at the rally.
